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“Yes?” he asked. “And what have you been thinking about, dolcezza?”
“About passions,” I said. “I remembered that I liked to cook and that I liked running. It’s not everything, but it’s a start. Those are two things I can build from, right?”
“Yes!” he answered. “When you let yourself do the things you love, it leads to finding more things you love—and to loving yourself more! When you love yourself, you will no longer let people walk all over you. You cannot be disregarded by others if you don’t disregard your own heart.”
“That’s another thing,” I said. “I told my mom I didn’t want to take over the fashion line and that I wasn’t going to the show in New York.”
“Oh, my!” he said. His voice filled with equal parts wonderment and pride. “What did she say to this news? Was she supportive?”
“I don’t know!” I said. “I suddenly lost signal as soon as I told her. I didn’t even get to hear her response.”
“Does this make you nervous?” he asked. He reached for my hand and gave it a tender squeeze. His eyes fixed on my face, studying it for signs of discomfort.
I thought about it, but only for a moment. “No,” I answered. “I actually feel really good about it. It doesn’t matter what her response is when I do get signal back. I’ve processed what I’ve told her and she can’t change my mind. I’m happy with the decision, and she will just have to accept it as final.”
Matteo gripped my hand even tighter, shaking it slightly with excitement. “So proud of you, cara mia!” he exclaimed. “This is the woman I knew you could be all along! Strong and decisive for yourself!”
My cheeks flushed hot, blushing from all of the positive attention I was receiving. He pulled my hand to his mouth and kissed it. I looked at his face—the stubble and tired eyes reminded me of the struggle he was now enduring.
“If you want, I can talk to Esme,” I said. “I can apologize to her on Jessie’s behalf. I can try to convince her to stay.”
“No, veloce,” he said, shaking his head sadly. “Esme is not one to be persuaded. When she makes a decision such as this, there is no changing her mind. Thank you for the kind offer.”
“What will you do without her?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I will have to find someone new,” he said. When we port back in California at the end of the trip, I will have a few days to hire someone else. Do not worry for me. The captain offers good pay. It should not be hard for me to find someone else who would like the job. My only remorse is that I have been unable to stop Esme’s struggle before it could begin.”
I opened my arms wide and pulled him into a caring embrace. He wrapped his arms around my back, and we held each other tightly. I wasn’t prepared for how good it would feel to be in his arms again. Instinctively, I buried my face in the crook of his neck, not ever wanting him to let me go.
“Mi tesoro,” he whispered sweetly, turning his head to kiss my shoulder. Then my neck.
I pulled my face back from his and found my lips an inch away from his. I gazed into his deep brown eyes, then leaned forward, feeling his soft lips on mine and kissed him.
He kissed me back, gently and tenderly at first. Then more deeply, sucking my bottom lip slightly with every individual kiss.
I let out an involuntary moan as my body reacted to his touch. I moved over him, straddling his lap on the couch, never breaking our kiss. He slid his hands under my skirt, running them along the skin of my thighs.
My hands ran through his hair first, then down over his shoulders and his bare chest. Without realizing, I had begun to grind my hips in his lap. My skirt was now pushed all the way up to my hips, leaving only his gray sweatpants and my panties as a thin barrier between us. He was getting harder with every second, and my panties had become damp from desire.
“Mi ecciti,” Matteo said, breathing heavy. “You’re turning me on, veloce.”
“Good,” I giggled, kissing his ear, giving the lobe a gentle suck. “I’ve been needing to feel you inside me again.”
He did not need any more persuasion. Matteo picked me up and carried me to his bed, laying me down. With a few gentle motions of his hand, he managed to pull my maxi dress off over my shoulders and my panties down past my feet. Both laid in a pile by the head of the bed, where his sweatpants soon joined them.
He reached for his bedside table and retrieved a condom. My back arched as he pushed into me, and we both moaned so loudly I was afraid his neighboring cabins would hear. I slapped my hand over my mouth, embarrassed by my own volume, and he laughed, never breaking his thrust.
“They are all upstairs working,” he promised. “You’re free to enjoy this fully.”
Confident in his word, I let myself moan out again in pleasure as his thrusting quickened, bringing me closer to the edge. I wrapped my legs around his, moving my own hips upward to meet the grinding of his hips.
He growled, leaning into me, planting kisses along my neck and chest. His breath grew quicker, as he neared his own climax.
“Matteo…” I gasped as my body tensed in blissful gratification.
He pulled me to him, kissing me deeply as he gave one final deep thrust, reaching his own peak. When finished, he collapsed, gasping between kisses on my neck and then my lips.
“Ti adoro,” he whispered. “I adore you.”
